Wagamama builds delivery kitchens pipeline: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned brand, is building a pipeline of delivery kitchens as it looks to learn about and optimise the model, Propel has learned. The company, which launched a debut … view

ETM reports 5.8% increase in full-year like-for-likes, undertakes strategic review: ETM, the 15-strong pub and restaurant group, saw turnover grow to £31.5m, up 16.7% in the year to 24 February 2019, driven by like-for-like growth of 5.8 … view

UK sees branded coffee shop growth slow significantly as international chains remain driving force behind European expansion: Outlet growth in the UK’s branded coffee shop market, which is Europe’s largest, has slowed significantly in … view

Marston’s ahead of schedule on £200m debt reduction target, reorganises pub divisions: Marston’s has reported it is ahead of schedule in its progress as it aims to reduce debt by £200m by 2023. It is targeting £70m of disposal proc … view

Laine Pub Company to launch music venue and ‘vinyl bar’ in Birmingham this week: Multiple pub operator and brewer The Laine Pub Company will open a music venue and “vinyl bar” in Birmingham on Thursday (28 November). The company … view

Corbin & King sees like-for-likes up 2% in 2019 as growth continues: London restaurant operator Corbin & King has seen like-for-like sales increase 2% in 2019, Propel has learned. Corbin & King provided the update as the company reported … view

Wagamama reports like-for-like sales up 6.3% in Q2 – hits £1m of delivery sales in a single week for the first time: Wagamama has reported turnover increased 11% to £93.5 million in Quarter Two 2019 with the continued expansion of its … view

Rarebreed Dining to open fourth site as it launches seafood concept: Restaurant company Rarebreed Dining will open its fourth site early next year by launching a concept that focuses on seafood, Propel has learned. The company has acquire … view

Wilkinson – we want to use Byron as a platform to develop further brands: Byron chief executive Simon Wilkinson has told Propel the long-term plan for the Three Hills Capital-backed brand will be to use it as a platform to introduce fur … view

Costa appoints Jill McDonald as its new CEO: Costa Coffee has appointed former Marks & Spencer clothing boss Jill McDonald as its new chief executive. The coffee chain, which was purchased by Coca-Cola for £3.9bn earlier this year, annou … view

M&B to look at making better use of delivery, potential for further virtual brands: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) will look at how it can make better use of delivery as part of its next wave of initiatives, with potential for further virtual … view

M&B reports profit boost in full year: Mitchells & Butlers has reported like-for-like sales rose 3.5% and total sales rose to £2,237m ((2018: £2,152m) in the year to 28 September. Profit before tax was up £47m to £177m. Chief executiv … view

Market Halls to be sector consolidator, says founder: Andy Lewis-Pratt, co-founder and chief executive of food hall operator Market Halls, has said the company plans to be a “consolidator” in the fast-growing sector. Speaking at the l … view

Exclusive – Tossed parent company to undergo CVA due to underperforming Vital Ingredient sites: The parent company of Tossed, the London-based healthy eating brand, is to undergo a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), after suffering a … view

Yau working with Obica on new concept: Wagamama and Hakkasan founder Alan Yau is working with international mozzarella bar chain Obica on a new concept called Mozzasando, Propel understands. Described as a “homage to katsu sando” with … view

Azzurri sees full-year like-for-like growth across entire business, transformational year for Coco di Mama: Azzurri Group, the owner of ASK Italian, Zizzi, Coco di Mama and Radio Alice, has reported a 7% increase in group sales to £299.4 … view

In recent years restaurant clos … view

Chilango looks to restructure: City AM has reported that Mexican brand Chilango is in talks to secure its long-term future with restructuring firm RSM and is more than six weeks late posting its accounts. City AM added that the firm is co … view

More pub sector deals to come – but not Young’s, says Patrick Dardis: Patrick Dardis, chief executive of London pub retailer Young’s, has told Propel he believes there will be more pub sector deals to come – but his company won’ … view

Young’s sees managed like-for-likes up 5.1% in past 13 weeks as it reports first-half record Ebitda: London pub retailer Young’s has reported strong trading in the most recent 13 weeks of its financial year with managed house revenue … view

Ex-Deliveroo MD to launch Imbiba-backed immersive food hall concept: Dan Warne, who stepped down as managing director of Deliveroo earlier this year, is to launch an immersive food hall concept, backed by sector investors Imbiba. Shelter … view

Peel Hunt – bowling operators and wet-led pubs to benefit as rise of food delivery puts emphasis on experiences: Peel Hunt leisure analysts Douglas Jack and Ivor Jones have said they expect bowling operators and wet-led pubs to benefit … view

Sourced Market to focus growth on travel locations: Sourced Market, the hybrid deli and dining brand, is to focus growth on travel locations for the immediate future, Propel has learned. Sourced Market opened its fifth site this summer in … view

Sector like-for-likes down 0.6% in October as rugby fails to ignite sales: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw like-for-like sales dip 0.6% in October, with the Rugby World Cup providing little if any extra boost for bar sal … view

Punch sets out ambitious investment and acquisition strategy: Punch, which operates 1,250 tenanted, leased and management partnership pubs, has set out its ambitious investment and acquisition strategy. The Clive Chesser-led company, whi … view

PizzaExpress reports UK and Ireland like-for-likes down 1.1% as owner prepares to inject £80m: PizzaExpress has seen like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland fall 1.1% for the 13 weeks to 29 September 2019. Ebitda for the UK and Ireland … view

Camerons Brewery reports turnover and Ebitda boost: Camerons Brewery has reported turnover increased 14% to £84.1m for the year ending 5 May 2019, compared with £74.0m the previous year. Revenue from pubs was up to £22.0m compared with … view

Easterbrook to keep stock awards worth circa $37m; McDonald’s global chief people officer also quits: Steve Easterbrook, who was fired over the weekend as chief executive of McDonald’s for having a consensual relationship with an empl … view

Julia Wilkinson – high streets must prioritise experiences through in-store initiatives, dining and leisure: Julia Wilkinson, portfolio and group restaurant strategy executive at Shaftesbury, has said high streets must increasingly “p … view

Marston’s sells 137 pubs to Admiral Taverns for £44.9m: Marston’s has reached agreement for the disposal of 137 pubs for £44.9 million to Admiral Taverns. This disposal is in line with Marston’s plans to reduce its debt in part th … view

Nick Campbell – we’ll grow Simmons Bars to 25 sites before rolling out beyond London: Simmons Bars owner Nick Campbell has told Propel the company will look to expand its 16-strong London estate outside the capital in 2021 but initial … view

McDonald's opens first UK ‘dark kitchen’ to meet delivery demand: McDonald’s has opened its first UK “dark kitchen” in a bid to meet a boom in demand for home deliveries. The kitchen in Hanworth, west London, is not attached to … view